Jesus did not reject the disciples' expectation of the Kingdom; He only withheld the timing, which the Father has placed in His own power.
Jesus did not reject the disciples' expectation that the Kingdom would be restored or that they would rule the twelve tribes under Him. He had already promised that in the regeneration they would sit upon twelve thrones (Matthew 19:28). What He withheld was the timing: the Father has placed the times and seasons in His own power, and Jesus could honestly say the day and hour were unknown to Him from His human side.
Acts 1:7 — This verse is Jesus' direct answer — the Kingdom is coming, but the times and seasons belong to the Father's authority alone.
Matthew 19:28 — This earlier promise shows why the disciples' question was legitimate: Jesus had told them they would rule the twelve tribes in His Kingdom.
Matthew 24:36 — This verse shows the same truth: the day and hour are known only by the Father.
After His resurrection, Jesus spent forty days speaking to His apostles of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). When they came together, they asked Him, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). Jesus did not say the Kingdom would not come. He answered, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power" (Acts 1:7), and then He directed them to wait for the Holy Spirit, who would give them power to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). Earlier, in Matthew 19:28, Jesus had promised His disciples, "Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." The same truth appears when Jesus said of that day and hour, "no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" knows it (Matthew 24:36).
Les Feldick emphasizes that Jesus did not upbraid or correct the disciples for asking whether He would "at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel" (Acts 1:6). He let them ask, and He answered plainly: the Kingdom is coming, and they would rule the twelve tribes — but that specific timing was not theirs to know. Les points to Jesus' earlier promise in Matthew 19:28 that the disciples would sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes in the regeneration, and he says it was exactly this promise that was "uppermost in their thinking" when they asked. Les also explains that the only thing Jesus refused to reveal was the "when," not the "if" or the "what." According to the prophetic program, the tribulation could have begun within a few weeks of the ascension and run its seven-year course, because the program is 490 years in length, and Israel could have had her King. What made the delay necessary is that the church age was never once indicated in the Old Testament, the Gospels, or even Acts — Jesus knew from His deity's side that Israel would go back into dispersion and that He would turn to the Gentiles, but He never said so. Les further teaches that Jesus could honestly say no one knew the day or hour because He spoke from His human side; from His God side He knew, since He and the Father are one. In the meantime, the power the disciples would receive at Pentecost (Acts 1:8) was the Holy Spirit's enablement to continue the signs-and-miracles ministry that Christ had carried on for three years. Old Testament prophets themselves had only partial understanding — they could not put together the suffering Savior and the coming King — so it is no surprise the disciples were not given the timing.
No. Les Feldick stresses that Jesus did not upbraid them or tell them they were misunderstanding. He let them ask, and answered only that the timing was not for them to know. Earlier He had promised that "in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28), and Les says that promise was uppermost in the disciples' minds.
Les explains that the Lord Jesus spoke from His human side when He said no man knows the day or the hour; from His God side He knew perfectly, because He and the Father are one. He could have told the disciples the exact day and time certain events would take place, but He did not. The statement was honest because His humanity, not His deity, was the side that spoke — though in His divine nature He knew fully.
Yes, according to Les's teaching. He says that "according to the prophetic program" the tribulation could have unfolded within a few weeks of Jesus' ascension. The seven years had to happen because the program is 490 years in length; then it could have run its course and Israel could have had her King. The disciples' expectation of restoration was therefore perfectly legitimate — only the timing was hidden.
Les points out that never in the Old Testament, never in the Gospels, and never even here in Acts is there a specific indication of the church age. Jesus knew from His deity's side that Israel was going back into dispersion and that the gospel would turn to the Gentiles, but He never indicated it. The disciples could not have been given the full picture of the intervening age, because it was a secret hidden even from the prophets, who could not put together the suffering of the Messiah with the coming of the King.
The Twelve-Throne Promise in the Regeneration
Jesus responded to the disciples' question without sarcasm or correction, confirming that in the regeneration they would sit with Him on thrones when He establishes His Kingdom.
Only the 'When' Was Refused
Jesus let the disciples ask about restoring the Kingdom and refused to answer only the timing — the Kingdom was certain, and the tribulation could even have begun soon after the ascension.
Times and Seasons in the Father's Power
Les ties Acts 1:7 to the fact that the church age was never revealed — Jesus knew from His deity's side what was coming but never indicated it in the Gospels or Acts.
The Human Side of Jesus' Answer
Les explains that Jesus spoke from His human side when He said no man knows the day and hour; from His God side He knew, and could have told them, but didn't.
Pentecost Power in the Interim
Jesus answered that the disciples were not to know when, but promised them the Holy Spirit's power to continue His signs-and-miracles ministry until the Kingdom came.
Prophets Could Not Put It Together
The Old Testament prophets had glimpses of the suffering Savior and the coming King but could not piece them together — showing why the timing was not revealed to the disciples either.
The Disciples Had Not Forgotten
Les shows the disciples had the twelve-throne promise uppermost in their thinking, and Jesus did not upbraid them when they asked about restoring the Kingdom.
Plain Language About the Twelve Thrones
Les reads Matthew 19:28 in plain language: in the regeneration the Son of Man sits on His throne and the disciples rule the twelve tribes — exactly what motivated their Acts 1 question.
Acts 1:6: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
This is the disciples' question that Jesus answers — they expected the Kingdom to be restored to Israel.
Acts 1:7: And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
This is Jesus' direct answer: the restoration is coming, but the timing belongs to the Father.
Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus immediately redirected the disciples to the interim mission empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 19:28: And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
This earlier promise explains why the disciples' Acts 1 question about the Kingdom was legitimate.
Matthew 24:36: But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
This verse shows that even the Son, speaking from His human side, did not reveal the timing.
Because the times and seasons are the Father's alone to know (Acts 1:7). Jesus confirmed that the Kingdom is coming and that the disciples would rule the twelve tribes, but the timing was not for them to know. Les Feldick emphasizes that Jesus only refused the 'when,' not the certainty of the Kingdom.
No. Les Feldick points out that Jesus did not upbraid them or say they were misunderstanding. He let them ask and simply said the timing was not theirs to know — He had already promised they would rule the twelve tribes in the regeneration.
Les teaches that Jesus spoke from His human side. From His deity's side He knew perfectly, since He and the Father are one, but He spoke honestly as a man, and so could truthfully say the time was in the Father's power alone.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Church Age Is Hidden in the Old Testament